Brown (2008) states, "By keeping students at the center of one’s classroom, a teacher can encourage and inspire students to seek out knowledge and to strive for understanding at a deeper level. Through this process, students see a greater relevance for and a stronger connection to the subject at hand. Through student-centered instruction, our students can achieve independent minds and the capacity to make educational decisions and value judgments." What is your experience with student-centered classrooms? In your opinion, what does it take to make a student-centered classroom? Why is having a student-centered classroom important? Explain.
Brown, J. (2008). Student-centered instruction: Involving students in their own education. Music Educators Journal. 94(5).
I learned about student-centered classrooms in my Learning and Instruction class this semester and while listening to the example about student-centered activities, I knew I enjoyed those way more than teacher-centered activities and classrooms. When working in student-centered classrooms, there is more hands on stuff which can really help students grasp a concept or strategy. When in a teacher-centered classroom, it's more of teacher lecturing the students and the students are usually bored and can't interact with each other. I understand that both are very important in specific subjects. For example, during math time, students have to pay attention to the teacher so that they can understand how to do the problem. The classroom is then turned to a student-centered classroom so that students have the chance to work together and have the chance to figure out if they can do it on their own.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of control to have a student-centered classroom. Even though they are the center of the classroom, an adult still have to be in charge to set limits and rules. Students might not learn on their own and need a guide, which is why the teacher is there to help also.
I learned about student-centered classrooms from doing this level 2 field experience. In Mrs. Griswold's class, she uses student-centered activities by having the students in groups and allowing them to work together. Doing this can help them to learn from one another and to see each other's ideas. Like Azra said, I think that a teacher-centered classroom is important, but only during certain subjects and activities. If the information is something that needs to be taught through lecture, then it is right to have a teacher-centered classroom for that. I know that I learn best through a student-centered classroom because my peers and I can help each other to come up with better answers and results in assignments and projects.
ReplyDeleteIn order to have a student-centered classroom you need to set rules and stick with the rules. The students can help one another to learn, but that does not mean that they will not need any help at all.
I have had a lot of student-centered classes. Those classes are the ones that I learned the most in. Even in college, I continue to have more and more experience in these classrooms, and I find them to be extremely important. The classes that allow me to participate more in what in being learned are the classes that I find more fulfilling because it helps me apply the information to something. Simply being able to apply the information reinforces its importance.
ReplyDeleteDo make a student-centered classroom, you have to come up with meaningful activities, discussions, etc. to help teach the material. For the students to get anything from student-centered classrooms, the information they gain from it has to be relevant to the class, but also to the real world sometimes. When the information the students are learning are able to satisfy both of these ideas, then it will help the students learn the information much better.
It is important to have student-centered learning in a classroom because it will help the students apply this information later on in life. Anything that takes higher level thinking it more likely to be remembered. If these activities, discussions, etc. are able to apply to real world situations, the students will be able to carry this on throughout the rest of their learning.
Kaitlin Kivell
I have had more student-centered classes in college than I had in grade school. I have had several positive experiences with my student-centered classes. I noticed that I am more engaged and interested during class. I also am more motivated to work hard because the material is more meaningful and applicable. I usually dread going to my lecture classes and struggle to stay awake. Even though I typically find teacher-directed classes less interesting, I do not think they are completely ineffective. In my learning and instruction class, I learned that educators should not aim to incorporate only student-directed activities or only teacher-directed activities, but should think of them on a continuum. I think teachers should strive to utilize a variety of different instructional methods including both student-directed and teacher-directed activities.
ReplyDeleteEven though I think teachers should use both student and teacher-directed strategies, I believe that classrooms should primarily focus on student-directed learning. I think it is crucial for students to be involved in their own learning. When they are actively engaged in the lessons, they will learn more than if they passively listen to information. It will also help students apply their learning outside of the classroom and better prepare them for the real world.
Azra, I agree that it takes a lot of control and classroom management to have a student-centered classroom. I think it is important for teachers to act as a guide for the students. I am currently in a student-centered class where my professor leaves learning completely up to the students. She does not provide clear guidelines or guidance for the class. My classmates and I always feel confused and frustrated because we are unclear about what we should be learning. I think this student-centered classroom would function much more effectively if our professor would provide more guidance and set clear expectations.
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot about student-center learning from many places. It was mentioned in my Learning Instructions class, I have had experiences in student-center learning when I was in elementary, middle, and high school for multiple classes, and I have seen it in my 3rd grade classroom. Unfortunately, I can say that I experienced student-centered learning, but it was not the majority of my classes. The majority of my classes growing up were teacher-centered classes. In the student-centered classes I realized that I learn things a lot better that way. I feel as if you work with groups or stuff like that, that you not only learn from the teacher, but you are learning from your peers around you. Ive noticed a lot of students helping other students out in my 3rd grade classroom, and sometimes I feel as if students understand it better when it is coming from another student.
ReplyDeleteI feel having student-center learning takes a lot of work and mind set. I feel like you have to have a lot of control and the students have to have a grasp of what is excpected of them. They have to be repeatedly told rules of the classroom while they are in big groups, small groups, etc.
Kristina Srog
I agree that both teacher-centered and student-centered are needed. Students needs to be lectured on the concept to understands it, but then can expand their knowledge and understanding through the use of student-centered instruction.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that to have a student-centered classroom, that rules are needed. If rules aren't established early on, students might not use their time to do the work they are supposed to. That would defeat the whole purpose of having a student-centered classroom.
Kaitlin Kivell
I’ve had, for the most part, decent experiences with student-center classrooms being the student. A few of my AP courses in high school were student-centered. We got to explore topics we were interested in and often worked in groups or individually with some structure in order to discover our knowledge. It was a much more laid back atmosphere and I enjoyed it. I felt my abilities were expanded in many of these classes because I was working with my peers and we were able to bounce ideas off each other and gain knowledge that way as well.
ReplyDeleteI also had a class this year in college that initially appeared to be student centered, but turned out the complete opposite. At the beginning of the year, the professor asked us what we wanted to learn from the class and what topics we were interested in. Thinking that I was going to get what I wanted out of this liberal arts class, I had high hopes. As it turned out, the professor did nothing but lecture the rest of the semester and seemed to cover the information he was most interested in. He spent little time on the material I was hoping to hear about.
A student-centered classroom is an environment where students have a say in what they want to learn and the issues they want to cover. It provides a sense of credibility to the students because they were the ones who chose the topics. They will feel more accountable for learning the information. With student-centered learning, students have the opportunity for more discovery learning, rather than information being presented to them. A lot of group-based projects and problem solving allow students to work off and learn from each other. A student who may be “teaching” or helping out another student can benefit from the experience as well because they learn how to explain the information in a way that someone else may be able to understand. Student-center classrooms are sources of motivation as well. If students are truly interested in the topics they choose, then they will be highly motivated to learn new material versus a teacher choosing a topic that the students may not be as interested in. If students are choosing their topics, they may focus on more real-life and authentic activities that they can relate to as well. Having a student-centered classroom creates a sense of classroom community because all students have a say in their learning.
Lauren Hanzelka
Bethany- After reading your comment, I notice that I have and have had many student-centered classes while in college, too. Being in these types of classes here at the University of Northern Iowa, I have been seated in groups where we students get to work together and build off one another’s ideas. Personally, I think this is a great way to have students learn. Like you said, Bethany, I dread going to my lecture classes as well. It is not fun to sit there and listen to the teacher lecture, but it does need to be done in some classes.
ReplyDeleteI learned about student centered classrooms in my Learning and Instruction Class this semester. A student centered classroom is where the students have considerable control over what and how they learn things. I have personally experienced this in my Level 11 class with Mrs. Griswold. She allows her students to conduct activities in which the students depend on one another for learning which is great because it promotes higher level cognitive process. She also creates a classroom atmosphere that is open to discussion and debate on ideas. She takes in what the students want to learn and uses that in her lessons. So it will not only benefit her but the students. Student centered classrooms also can consist of group discussions led by the students, have the students conduct their own research, peer tutoring, authentic activities, and sufficient scaffolding. All of those examples are great ways to incorporate a student center classroom. I think having a student centered classroom is a great way for the students to learn and to interact with one another. Like many have mentioned above, not all subjects can be taught with a student center some like math or social studies may need a teacher centered classroom to direct the students in the correct way to start off. I personally believe that a student centered classroom is more beneficial for the students but it depends on the content being taught.
ReplyDeleteI think to have a student centered classroom it involves a lot of management and limits in the classroom. The students have to know where the teacher stands with his or her rules and they need to respect their rules and limitations. Student centered classrooms also take time to enforce. The students can easily get off track in a student centered classroom which takes time and patience from the teacher to commit to this sort of strategy.
Lauren-
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your comment about student centered classrooms in college I can say that I have experienced the same. A lot of my education major class are hands on and use authentic activities which will benefit me in the field. When I first came to college and began to experience this type of teaching strategy I had no idea there was a name for it. But after learning about it in my Learning and Instruction class I can relate to my past classes with this strategy. Granted, most of the liberal arts classes are boring lectures it allows me to see first hand what teacher directed classrooms feel like compared to learner directed classrooms. Based on my experiences and my likes and dislikes in my classes I would like in establish a student directed classroom when I become an educator.
Azra,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about the hands on things. I think that a lot of students take a hands on strategy and learn better from it. I also agree with the fact that teacher-centered classrooms can definitely be boring for the students. I think every student has been in a class that has been extremely boring and not fun to go to. I dont know about anyone else, but when I go into a classroom and I am bored, I am not learning everything that I am suppose to be learning and I am not happy to be there. I feel as if teacher-centered and student-centered classrooms have to have their balance. At some points of lessons, the teacher has to lecture, but then you don't want to lecture the whole class period, so you should have some time set off for student-cenetered learning so that there can be an even balance.
Bethany,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that in a lot of my college classes, I've been in students-directed classrooms. Those were the classes I enjoyed going to. You were saying how you were more engaged and interested in those classes, and I couldn't agree with you more. The classes where material is directed to me, I am very willing to work hard and be motivated to get the things done. Unlike a teacher-directed classroom, I am very unmotivated to follow along and take notes. I agree with you that both are important and we need both in the classroom, but I would primarily use student-directed as well!
I can see evidence of a student-centered classroom in the third grade class I have been working with. In many instances, students are provided with several options when deciding what they want to do. From what I understand, students were given options on what book they want to read for reading groups (I'm not in the class during this time). The teacher provides some structure with their options, but ultimately they are the ones making decisions on their learning. There is often quite a bit of discovery learning going on in the classroom as well. The teacher never recites information for students to remember, they always discover it for themselves through class discussions or group work. They have a lot of freedom in how they choose to apply their knowledge. I could see this during math when they had the opportunity to create their own word problems and then had a peer solve the problems they created. These authentic activities are common within the classroom as well. Students recently have been having to make estimations of measurements with every day objects. These type of activities can be applied to the real world and seem to be more beneficial to the students as well.
ReplyDeleteTo create a student-centered classroom, it will take more planning to accommodate for your learners' needs and preferences, rather than just planning a lecture or presentation. It will force you as a teacher to assess students in different ways, possibly evaluating a project rather than simply grading a multiple choice test. Flexibility will be another important element needed through adjusting instruction or activities done to teach what your students are eager or curious to learn about.
ReplyDeleteMy experiences through student-centered classroom has been most evident in college, through doing assignments such as problem-based learning. Rather than having a teacher lecture for the entire class time, we were presented with a real world problem or question that could take on possible different solutions that we had to work on collaboratively with others to come up with a solution we saw most fit and explain how we came to that conclusion.
Having student-centered classrooms is important since it means that we as teachers are always trying to meet our students where they are at now cognitively and are trying our best to accommodate their needs and desires of what they want to learn. Through using this kind of instruction, students are part of active learning where they solve problems, answer questions, formulate questions on their own, discuss, explain, debate, or brainstorm during class. Cooperative learning is always taking place by students working individually as well as in groups or with partners. Inductive teaching and learning is used where students are presented first with challenges and then learn the course material in the context of trying to solve or explain the challenge. Using student-centered classrooms with inquiry-based learning, case-based instruction, problem-based learning, project-based learning, discovery learning, and just-in-time teaching has often shown improvement of short-term mastery, long-term retention, and depth of understanding of course material. By adjusting the approach to teaching, the material becomes much more meaningful for students and their critical/creative problem solving skills, formation of positive attitudes toward the subject being taught, and level of confidence in knowledge often show levels of improvement or increase. This will all benefit students for their school years and prepare them for their future careers.
Katrina Bauer
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI agree it is important that students get a choice in what activity they get to do. This is also implemented in the classroom I get to observe and feel it changes the students' view of learning, not making them feel necessarily forced to do school work, but showing them they have control over most of it. By having students come up with a word problem for others to solve, students have to think about it through a different mindset of being the problem creator which can be valuable in the critical thinking it involves. Also, by having students answer each other’s problems, they may work harder knowing their peers will be analyzing them. I think more discovery learning is a result since students learn the enjoyment of learning and how you can determine what you can achieve by how much work you put into something and how interesting learning can be when you become intrigued. You had some really good points about student-centered classrooms!
Katrina Bauer
Establishing a student centered classroom has been a main point for discussion in all of my educational development classes. A large emphasis has been put on the importance of me establishing a student-centered learning environment once I enter the professional teaching field to make the work relevant and meaningful to my class. Teaching material that the students can relate to can establish deeper connections for their understanding and create opportunities for them to connect their personal life to the material. I have seen this type of teaching first hand during the month I spent in the classroom and not only do the students seem to make easier and more meaningful connections, but they also seem to enjoy material that they can understand and relate to making the lesson more enjoyable for all.
ReplyDeleteLauren-
ReplyDeleteI also have had some of the same experiences as you at the university. A literature class I took the first semester here established a student centered classroom on the first day and continues the rest of the semester with this teaching/learning style. This class allowed the students to choose the material and books they wished to cover over each topic and lesson that would be discussed on a specific day. This allowed me the freedom to choose material that interested me which gave me freedom but also provided structure and guidance by the outlines and topics created by the teacher. However, like you mentioned second in your post if a teacher is to initially establish a student centered classroom and then stray away from this style of teaching student interest and motivation could be lost. If a student is told they will be learning topics they want to know about, their excitement and interest could be sparked and if a teacher abandons this method throughout the year, students interest and excitement will not be at the level it once was when they had the freedom to make their own decisions.
In my experience I have not seen many classes that were a majority of student-centered. Many classrooms that I have been in have not been student-centered. Most of those classes are in the higher grades. In the younger grades it is more likely to have a student-centered classroom because if they are involved and have a say in it they are more likely to pay better attention and do what is needed of them. To be a student-centered classroom it has to let the students have a say in whats going on along with good collaboration with the teacher. I believe student-centered classrooms are a good way to teach and is important for motivation and to gain knowledge.
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